Free skating returns
The Cedar Creek Bible Church is hosting free Friday nights of
skating, skits and snacks from 7 to 8:30 p.m. during February
and the first three Friday nights of March. Skates, sodas,
popcorn, hot chocolate and sno-cones are all free. The church is
located one mile north of the traffic light in Seven Points on
SH 274. For information, call (903) 432-2175.

Tri-County soccer
The Tri-County Soccer Association 2012 spring sign-up is set for
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 and for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday,
Feb. 2, at McDonalds in Gun Barrel City. Players must have
turned 4 years old by Jan. 1. For information, call Candi Conner
(903) 887-3138.

PSUMC fellowship
The Payne Springs United Methodist Church fellowship night is
set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, with a covered dish dinner
followed by “Beloved,” a group led by Chris Hobgood. The public
is invited. For information, call (903) 451-2978.

CCL Garden Club
The Cedar Creek Lake Garden Club meets at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb.
3, at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake, Seven Points. A program
on making special valentines to take home and cards for
residents of local nursing homes will be presented by Donna
Malik. For information, call Gail Haynes at (903) 498-6544.

CCL Literary Club
The Literary Club of Cedar Creek Lake executive board meeting is
set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Library at Cedar Creek
Lake, Seven Points.

Grief support group
The Fragile Hearts Grief support Group meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday
(the first Tuesday of each month), Feb. 7, at 215 N. Coleman
St., Mabank, the home of Eric and Sonya Ward. For directions or
information call Sonya at (903) 386-0443 or Beth Landrum at
(903) 880-4975.

Mabank art show
The Mabank District Art Show viewing is set from 6 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 9, in the MHS Commons area for grades 2 through
12.

Valentine’s fundraiser
Members of Friends of Tri-County Library are rapidly selling out
of tickets for the fundraising dinner set for 7 p.m. Saturday,
Feb. 11, at First Methodist Church, Mabank. Tickets are
available at Tri-County Library.

Run for Roses race
The “Run for Roses” fourth annual barrel race starts with
exhibition from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and open to start at 1
p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Malakoff Ag Arena, 15201 FM 3062,
Malakoff. Following the barrel Race at 5 p.m. is a chili dinner
and auction at the Malakoff High School. For information e-mail
to
malakoffagbooster@yahoo.com.

Confederate Rose meets
The Confederate Rose chapter of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy meets at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at the home of
Johna Lamb. Women interested in investigating their family
history in relation to the UDC are welcome. For information, see
chapter website at
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txcrudc/.

Heaters needed
The Family Resource Center, located at 107 Spring Valley, Gun
Barrel City, is looking for your help with providing heaters for
babies, the elderly and people without heat. For information,
call Debbie at (903) 887-4711. Donations are greatly
appreciated.

Meals drivers needed
The Senior Center at the Ball Park is in desperate need for
“Meals on Wheels,” drivers in Kemp and Mabank. For information,
call Lisa Smith, director, at (903) 887-0067

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Tip leads to marijuana and
cashMonitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–This is the second time Mark Wayne Davis has
been charged with possessing or delivering marijuana.
This time, the 44-year-old was caught with more than five
pounds, or several bundles of the dried cannabis. In addition,
officers located around $3,000, on his person – $2,000 in bills
were in his top left shirt pocket and another $1,000 in his
wallet.
An anonymous tip at 4:30 p.m. Sunday alerted Gun Barrel City
police to possible drug activity in progress at a La Quinta
Hotel room, assistant chief Larry Warrick told The Monitor. The
caller also described a vehicle, he added.
Two officers responded to the location and spotted the described
maroon 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse leaving the hotel and entering
the MovieStar Cinema parking lot, where officers intercepted it.
When asked if he was involved in any illegal activity or in
possession of any illegal substances, the driver, Davis, denied
doing anything wrong, according to a police report.
Officers detected a strong odor and proceeded to search the
vehicle and Davis.
In the trunk two bags were located, both contained a large
quantity of marijuana. Two compressed bricks were in one bag and
several medium sized bags of loose material were in a second
bag.
A second officer intercepted two female suspects at the hotel
room, one was found in possession of a small quantity of
marijuana in a pill bottle.
Tamijo Butcher was arrested and was detained in the Gun Barrel
City jail. The second suspect was not detained.
Davis, with a Kemp mailing address, was charged with a similar
charge March, 4, 2010, and released the next day on a $50,000
bond. He was indicted in June, 2010, and placed on probation
until his court date.
However, twice he tested positive for marijuana, which landed
Davis back in jail, this time for a month.
At the Sept. 13, 2010, hearing before Judge Carter Tarrance,
Davis was sentenced to two years confinement for the state jail
felony, but given probation for five years, 300 hours of
community service and a fine of $750.
In December, 2011, a probation violation report was filed and
community supervision was revoked and a warrant issued.
When he was arrested Sunday, the outstanding warrant came to
light. As of Wednesday, he is being held without bond, in the
Henderson County Jail.
Davis is charged with delivery of marijuana greater than five
pounds and less than 50 pounds, a second-degree felony.
If convicted, he faces two-20 years in jail and up to a $10,000
fine.
Movie theater manager Jennifer Brown has had several calls about
the incident since the story broke Wednesday.
Brown said none of those involved in the bust were associated in
any way with the theater.

No penalty on property taxes paid by Jan. 31
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–Tax Assessor Collector Dick Murphy is urging residents
to be aware of the Tuesday, Jan. 31, deadline for paying taxes
in Kaufman County.
As of Wednesday, Feb. 1, a 7 percent penalty and interest will
be assessed.
“Even if you can’t pay your entire bill, consider paying as much
as you can,” Murphy said.
“The penalty and interest increase each month, and with a
partial payment, you will be reducing the amount that accrues
penalty and interest.”
Kaufman County tax offices in Kaufman, Forney and Terrell are
open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Kemp office is open at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing for lunch
between noon and 1 p.m daily.
Residents can also pay online at
www.kaufmantax.net or by
phone at 1(800) 272-9829, using Jurisdiction Code 6382.
Regular mail must be postmarked by midnight Jan. 31 to be
considered on time. For more information, contact the tax office
at (972) 932-0288.
Addresses for the tax offices are Kaufman, 100 N. Washington,
Forney, 200 E. Main, Terrell, 408 E. College and Kemp, 103 N.
Main.

City to contract with event promoter for
two festivalsBy Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY-Gun Barrel City is putting two city festivals in
the hands of a professional promoter this year.
Tuesday, the city council unanimously voted to spend up to
$50,000 from the Hotel-Motel Fund on two events, a three-day
Memorial Day event and a one-day July 4th Festival. The city
manager is authorized to sign a contract with Brad Weiss of
B-Weiss Entertainment Group to produce and promote both events.
City treasurer and last year’s event planner Mickie Raney told
council members that Weiss had attended a city festival last
July and saw a lot of potential. “This is small fry compared to
what he does elsewhere,” Raney said, as she encouraged the
council to “go big, or not at all.”
“Let’s roll the dice to fill our hotels and motels and get
people to spend money in our restaurants and stores. They’re
hurting. We have to do something,” she said.
Weiss will sign up event sponsors, which may well mean a beer
company, city manager Gerry Boren said. He already has a top
Texas Music performer lined up, Boren added.
This performer (whose identity is kept under wraps until a
contract is signed) would need an amphitheater, Raney said.
Building one is not a problem, as it was included in the park
grant plan, Boren said. The only thing holding up the release of
grant funding was the transfer of property deed from the
Economic Development Corporation to the city and the deed being
recorded with the county, something that could be completed this
by the end of the January, mayor pro-tem Curtis Webster said.
(Mayor Don Wood was absent, as this is the busiest 30 days for
tax preparers, he said.)
Park Board chairwoman Carol Strickland asked the council if
changing the order of what was to be developed in the park first
would affect the grant monies. Boren answered, “no.”
Putting up a shell-type structure to reflect back the sound
should be able to be accomplished before Memorial Day, he added.
And if for some reason it won’t be completed, the city can rent
a sound stage, he added for about $12,500.
Raney explained why using the park pavilion for the performer
wouldn’t work due to taking up prime electrified booth space for
audience seating and other restrictions on the performance
itself.
In similar action, the council allocated another $4,500 from the
Hotel-Motel Fund to sponsor the KCKL Bass Tournament to be held
March 24-25. In exchange, the city expects to receive 50 radio
spots a month for three months, Boren said.
These spots can highlight our businesses, hotels and community,
he added.
In other business, council members:
• approved a zoning change to accommodate the Country Living
assisted living facility planned to be situated at 2.06 acres of
agricultural-zoned acreage.
The two acres are part of a 91-acre parcel purchased by the
Economic Development Corporation situated just behind Ivan Smith
Furniture. The zoning was changed to Multi-family residential
zoning after a discussion and public hearing was held Tuesday.
• appointed Larry Moon, James W. Osborne and Marty Goss to the
Planning and Zoning Commission and Linda Rankin to the Park
Board.
• accepted lowest bids for the purchase of various road
materials. Winning bids were submitted by S&S Trucking, King
Sand & Gravel, Ergon Asphalt, Advanced Paving, Texana Land &
Asphalt and Michael’s Patio and Landscaping.